Source
r/uklaw•
SpunkVolcano

Open University Master of Laws - is it any good/does it look good?

I've already asked this of a few other people privately but throwing this open - I'm still a few years away from the end of my current Open University degree, and have found it helpful to fit around my full time job - I can only really do distance learning as a result. I'm considering taking on the above mentioned Masters degree after my course finishes, does it look like a good course/does the Open University have a good track record on this course?

What I've been told is that it looks better for the theory/academic side rather than for actual legal practise, however I wouldn't be seeking a career in legal practise and this would essentially be purely from personal interest, so this sounds ideal to me!

http://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f64

Posted Apr 12, 2021, 3:10 PM UTC

85
RexLegeVerified Solicitor•

I've already asked this of a few other people privately

It's like my opinion means nothing to you.

I hope they don't even let you in. Dead to me.

Seriously though, you know my thoughts. Go for it if it interests you. As someone with a highly specialised LLM, I love academic study for the sake of academic study. If you enjoy it, do it. Not everything needs to make financial sense!

23
PM_ME_FINE_FOODS•

I have no knowledge of OU LLM prestige or how good the course is.

When it comes to applying for jobs in law, please remember that practise =/= practice. Despite what Americans will tell you, they are not the same word, and it is traditionally one of the easy ways for firms and chambers to dispose of loads of applications without having to properly read them. It would be awful if that mistake costs your application any real attention.

If you can't get your head around the difference, substitute "advise" or "advice" and see if it makes sense - almost impossible to go wrong from there.

8
SpunkVolcanoOP•

Thanks for pointing out - as I say in the post I'm not actually intending to apply for jobs in law or similar, so hopefully not relevant!

6
RexLegeVerified Solicitor•

You need to practise to work in practice.

Or just wing it.

4
republicj•

Unless you can get a first / distinction, I wouldn't do it. It obviously depends what you're looking to do (solicitor / barrister). I can tell you now that if you're looking at the bar, it won't matter much that you did a masters at open uni, even if you got a first (i don't know your undergrad / grade but if you're considering open uni llm, that probably says enough). I'm not trying to be a dick or be harsh but the competition is brutal (even more so now) and it's just not worth the money if its a realistic dead end. If you're looking for high Street sol firms, then maybe it's okay but you'll probably be better served with paralegalling and getting to know the industry at the coal face

1